Textile drive for color printing machines



April 5, 1932- s. B. STAFFORD ET AL 1,352,272

TEXTILE DRIVE FOR COLOR PRINTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 17, 1931 Werman]. J

April 1932- s. BISTAFFORD ET AL 1,852,272

TEXTILE DRIVE FOR COLOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed June 1'7; 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a I 4; G 27. p

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Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE STEPHEN B.

srnrronn, or oxron-n, AND HERMAN A. SMITH, or WORCESTER, MAssa CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS T RICE, BARTON & FALES, INCORPORATED, 015 WORCESTER, MAfiSACI-IUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS TEXTILE DRIVE roe COLOR ram'rme MACHINES Application filed June 17,

This invention relates to a driving means capable of general use but particularly adapt ed for use with color printing machines for textile fabrics.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a convenient means for locating printing machines on short centers and effecting a material saving in the floor space occupied, whereby, in setting up new plants, less space than heretofore is provided for each machine and, in old plants, the space between the machines is clear, thereby providlug for moving articles and walking around the room that has been obstructed in the old which there will be head room under the drive shafts, thus avoiding the difficulties which' were previously encountered by having the drive shafts at a comparatively low elevation to provide a construction in which it is not necessary to change the location of the drive shaft after it is once set for any change in the diameter or position of the intermediate gear, and to provide the intermediate gear al ways supported on a stud and bracket, and niovable about a center to always maintain the proper tooth contact.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a textile color printing machine diagrammatically and illustrating a preferred form of the drive;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the drive;

Fig. 3 is an end View of the bracket supported by the drive shaft and carrying a movable gear, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the bracket on the line t4 of Fig. 8.

In the type of textile color printing ma chine heretofore used, it has been necessary to drive each machine from a motor mounted on a base located at a distance from the machine and to locate the drive shaft at a low a many cases this obstruction extends from one 1931. Serial No. 545,052.

machine to the next all the way across the room in which they are located. As stated above, one of the principal objects of this invention is to eliminate these obstructions.

Referring to the elevation it will be seen that the room in which the press frames are set up can be provided with many more frames than has been the case heretofore, and that the space occupied by one machine and its drive is considerably less than formerly. This condition is brought about by the way in which the power is transmitted to the copper rolls 11 with which the central cylinder 12 is practically surrounded.

In the first place, it will be understood that the copper rolls are driven positively by power while the wrap of the cloth around the cylinder 12, together with the fact that these copper rolls are positively driven and come in contact with the cloth on the opposite side, is responsible for the rotation of the cylinder.

Instead of having the motor mounted on a large strong frame on the floor it can be mounted on the ceiling or on the nextfloor above. It is not shown in these drawings but it drives a pulley or other wheel 13 on the drive shaft 1 1. This drive shaft is mounted in two bearings 15 and 16 at opposite ends at such an elevation that the workmen and others can walk around the aisles without bending to avoid hitting their heads against this shaft. The bearing 15 can be mounted on a bracket 17, as shown, fixed to the wall or to the frame 10 of the next machine. The bearing 16 is mounted 011 a bracket 18 carried by the frame 10 of the machine which it is to operate. On the shaft 141 is a pinion 19 which operates a gear 20 mounted on a bearing 21, preferably an antifriction bearing, carried by a bracket 22 which is fixed but adjustable, as will be described. This gear 20, or the stud 28 on which it is mounted, is, of course, fixed in position while the machine is operating but it is adjustable. The bracket 22 is centered on the shaft 14 and is movable about that center. It is supported also by the drive shaft 1 1. The racket 22 carries a projection 25 which fits in an arcuate groove 26 in a bracket27 fixed on the machine frame. Thearc of this grooveis and the bracket 22 with bolts 30 passing.

through said slots, so that, after adjustment,

the parts can be fastened up securely in posi-v tion, the bracket 27 or projection on the frame being stationary.

There is also a stop screw 31 adjustable and adapted to engage the edge of the bracket 22 to locate it and prevent its moving beyond a certain point. This bracket 22 has a U- shaped integral portion 32 which passes over the gear 20.

One of the reasons for this construction is the fact that a gear 33 with which the gear 20 meshes has to be replaced by a gear of different size or has to be adjusted toward and from the center of the gear 20 when the copper rolls 11 are changed for others of different diameter for the purpose of changing the length of the figure on the printed cloth. He'retofore when such a change had to be made it was necessary to take out all the driving mechanism and to replace it in an awkward and difiicult manner. The gear 20 would have to be held up to its new position by hand with no mechanism provided for holding it. Now it will be seen that the bracket 22 is firmly supported at its center and when the parts are loosened up all that has to be done is to swing this, without carrying its weight, to the proper position for the meshing of the gears. Furthermore, by having the bracket 22 extend upwardly above the top of the frame which comes about at the bottom of this bracket, the shaft 14 is located a material dis-- tance higher than has been the case heretofore, so that the passageway between two machines or at the end of one machine is entirely free of this shaft. It is also free of the frame which has heretofore supported the driving mechanism. a r

Although we have illustrated and described one form of the invention, we are aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, we do not wish to be limited to the exact form shown, but what we do claim is 1. In a drive for a textile color, printing machine, the combination with the frame of the machine, of a driving shaft therefor supported at one end of the frame at a point above the top of the frame for the purpose described, and means centered -on said shaft and supported by it for carrying a gear of the driving mechanism, said means being adj ustable in an are about the center of said shaft.

2. In a drive for a textile color printing 1 machine, the combination with the frame of the machine and a bearing supported by the frame at a distance above it, of a drlving shaft, one end of which. is carried in said bearing, said driving shaft extending across the aisle next to the machine frame but in a position to'allow head room beneath it, means for drivingthe shaft, a pinion on the shaft, a bracket oscillatably mounted on the shaft and supported thereby, and a gear constantly meshing with said pinion and carried by said bracket, whereby the gear can be adjusted about the shaft and its weight will be supported by the shaft during adjustment.

'3. In a machine drive, the combination of a bearing, a driving shaft, one end of which is carried in said bearing, said driving shaft extending across the aisle next to the machine frame, means for driving the shaft, a. pinion on the shaft, a bracket oscillat-ably mounted on the shaft and sup orted thereby, a stud parallel with the driving shaft supported by said bracket, the bracket having a U-shaped portion adjacent to said stud, a gear on the stud in said U-shaped portion, said bracket having a bearing for the stud, a fixed bracket on the frame having an arcuate slot, a projection on the first named bracket entering said slot, whereby the bracket is supported by the driving shaft and held in proper position at its extreme end by the slot and projection, said slot being concentric with the driving shaft, and means for fastening the two brackets together in adjusted positions.

4. In a machine drive, the combination of a driving shaft, a pinion on the shaft, a bracket loosely mounted on the shaft to swing about it as a center, a stud mounted in bearings on the bracket, a gear on the stud meshing constantly withsaid pinion, said bracket having a portion extending around one side of the gear, an arm on the bracket provided with a projection, a stationary bracket on the frame of the machine having an arcuate slot centered on the driving shaft for receiving said projection, an arcuate perforation through the stationary bracket drawn on the same center, and a bolt extending through the arcuate perforation and through the arm on the bracket for fixing the movable bracket in adjusted positions. r

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

STEPHEN B. STAFFORD. HERMAN A. SMITH. 

